Alan Webb to be coached by UVA's Vigilante

By Steve Nearman

American Running Association Correspondent

<Ed note June 21, 2011 :  Mark Lorenzoni who writes a running column in the Charlottesville (VA) Daily Progress spotted Alan & Julia Webb late last week in Charlottesville and got both to confirm that they indeed will be  moving back to Virginia as early as July and settling near the University of Virginia (UVA).  As reported in mid-April, ARA correspondent Steve Nearman's sources were correct:  Alan Webb will be coached by UVA Director of Track & Field Jason Vigilante.  Coach Vig, as he is called by his athletes, has been at Virginia since August 2008 and has been an outstanding recruiter of mid-distance talent.  Besides NCAA 800m outdoor Champion Robby Andrews, Vigilante brought aboard 3/4 of the then US High School record holders in the boys' 4x800 led by Anthony Kostelac.  Kostelac was recently named ACC Outdoor Track Freshman of the Year after capturing the ACC 800m title.  Speculation has been focusing on what role if any Webb will have on the UVA XC and Track program.  He could be named a volunteer assistant coach at UVA in order to be in compliance with NCAA rules while training with and giving guidance to a deep stable of mid-distance talent for the UVA Wahoos.  

ARA has exchanged notes with Julia Webb and hopes to have a face-to-face interview with both Alan and Julia prior to this weekend's USA Track & Field Championships in Eugene Oregon.  The Webbs are returning to Oregon on the 22nd after their extended visit to Virginia.>

Our original story as reported on April 14, 2011:

American Mile Record Holder Alan Webb has finalized plans to move back to the East Coast in his home state of Virginia to train under Coach Jason Vigilante of the University of Virginia, sources close to Webb confirmed today.

Webb last month amicably left Alberto Salazar’s Nike-sponsored training program in Portland,  where he had been for nearly two years after training under his former high school coach Scott Raczko in Reston, VA.

After investigating his options, which reportedly included Raczko, his former college coach Ron Warhurst and Vigilante, Webb settled on the UVA coach. Webb made initial contact with Vigilante last month and was on hand last Saturday evening at the Mason Spring Invitational Track Meet at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA as his wife Julia Webb ran in the 1500m. 

Vigilante had his UVA Cavalier track team in the meet and was seen talking with Webb prior to the 1500m heats.  When asked by American Running Executive Director Dave Watt “if we’d be seeing you back in Virginia,” Webb replied “We’ll see.”

At this point, Webb has been negotiating with Nike and at least one other shoe company on a multi-year contract. But his stock has taken a hit by four years of sub-par performance, including failing to make the 2008 Olympic team. Webb reached personal bests in his signature distances from 800m to the mile in 2007.

Under NCAA rules, Webb will have to become an assistant coach or graduate student or such to allow him to train with heralded UVA mid-distance star Robby Andrews.